FRG reveals closing date of broad agency announcement

The First Responders Group (FRG) of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced the planned closing of a broad agency announcement (BAA) on Monday, Nov. 30.

With this announcement, the FRG states that proposal solicitations and submissions will be available on the Federal Business Opportunities website.

The BAA aimed to gather proposals that would facilitate the development of several kinds of technological solutions to serve first response needs.

The announcement lists eight areas of interest in relation to the development of technology that would support first response efforts in several areas.

One of these is a large 3-D robot with two arms. The FRG states that this technology would have potential in serving to mitigate risks associated with bomb diffusing and disposal and would also serve to protect explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel from unnecessary harm.

Another area of interest is the development of a universal operator control unit platform. According to the FRG, this would serve to reduce training time and costs and allow multiple robotic platforms to be operated by a single unit. This could also assist EOD activity.

Another priority area of interest is respiration protection for fire fighting personnel, in order to prevent harmful toxin exposure.